by James Slater – Legendary Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera remains in the hunt for “one more” world title fight, focusing at age 34 on the world lightweight crown. Coming back last November, after a year layoff, “The Baby Faced Assassin” stopped the over-matched, 25-19, Sammy Ventura in 4 rounds. The win proved little, really, as Ventura was a guy who has been beaten every time he’s stepped up in quality. However, in looking for the second win in his latest comeback, the former super-bantamweight, featherweight and super-featherweight king is set to take on a tougher, more credible foe next time out..
Scheduled to fight again on January 31st, in his home country, Barrera will most likely face The Dominican Republic’s 33-year-old John Nolasco, a super-featherweight/lightweight who has never been stopped. I say Barrera will most likely face Nolasco, because the 33-year-old is the second opponent that has been announced in the past few days. Should this one go ahead, Barrera figures to at least get some rounds in.
A pro since 1999, Nolasco has met some good names, giving good accounts of himself in doing so. Current WBO featherweight champ Steve Luevano’s name jumps out as the best man on his record – with Nolasco losing a points decision to the pre-title Luevano back in May of 2003. The 33-year-old has also taken both Jason Litzau and Juan Ruiz (recent TKO winner over former world champion Wayne McCullough) the distance. With his 17-4-4(8) pro record, Nolasco is clearly a step above the Sammy Venturas of the world, but as of late he hasn’t been anywhere near active enough. This lack of sharpness may affect him in the Barrera fight. Not having boxed since December of 2007 ( a TKO win), and having had only three fights in three-and-a-half years, Nolasco may be rusty. It also goes without saying he will be going in with the finest fighter of his entire career.
For even though Barrera is not the awesome fighting machine he was back in the 1990s and early to mid 2000s, the Mexican star remains world class. Of course, it was assumed Barrera had done all he wanted in a quite fabulous career, and that after back-to-back points losses to Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao he would retire. Instead, Marco fights on; searching as he is to become the first man from his country to win world titles in four different weight classes. Barrera would likely be a pretty big underdog against any of the current world lightweight champions, but on he goes in his quest to find out.
Now an amazing 64-6(43) and a pro since way back in 1989, Barrera will have enough left to see off Nolasco. Scheduled for ten rounds, the fight may well go the limit – with Marco picking up his 65th pro victory.